Holding Onto You (Never Letting Go) (7 page)

Whistle
.

“Again!
Suicides!” Coach was fucking mad or something because we ran suicides all afternoon. My legs felt numb and Connor threw up a few times. We both got on the black line, got in position, and when we heard the whistle, we ran.

Back and forth five times and we kept this up until he told us to stop. There was no amount of training that prepared me for this abuse. I wanted to take that whistle and shove it down his throat.

Whistle.

“Alright, take
a break gentlemen!” Coach walked away and looked at the chalkboard on the sidelines.

I grabbed some water with Connor, “I’m about to die,” he said, drinking water.

I wiped the sweat from my face with my towel. “I can’t feel my fucking body.”

Connor nudged me and I followed his eyes. Sophia was sitting on the bleachers with a smile on her face. Connor lifted his hand to wave and she waved back. “She looks happy.”

I smiled and our eyes connected again. “She’s beautiful.”

Whistle.

Connor grabbed my arm and we went back to practice. We spent the rest of the time playing a game and all throughout practice, she was looking at me and I knew that I couldn’t give up.

After a grueling two hours of practice, I made it back to the apartment and plopped on the couch. The rest of practice was fine until Kyle started acting like he was someone important and stared me down. I wanted to rip off his head. His fucking smirks and stares. Who the hell does this kid think he is? Connor kept looking at me and warning me to keep my cool. The only reason why I didn’t lose it was because of Sophia. I didn’t care about basketball anymore, Sophia was what mattered. I wondered what she thought after I told her that I missed her and I gave her a kiss. I shifted uncomfortably thinking about what Sophia could be thinking.

Did she feel the same?

Was she thinking of me?

I debated whether I should have called her after practice.

Connor was at the office with Father trying to get things ready. They wanted me to go in tonight but I wasn’t feeling well. I took some medicine and headed to bed. I closed my eyes and the last thing I saw were Sophia’s blue eyes.

My eyes are shut but I feel her near me. Her hands are on my cheek. Her face is near mine. “Adam...I miss you too.”

“Sophia.” I open my eyes and see my pretty girl inches from my face. She’s here, she’s finally here.

“I’m here.”

She brings her lips to mine and it consumes me.
Her taste. I run my nose around her cheeks and down her neck. Her smell is intoxicating.

“You smell incredible baby.”

She lets out a soft giggle and throws her head back when I start nipping at her ear lobe and neck. My hands are on her back and I’m holding her tight. Soft moans are coming from her beautiful lips as I tease her with my tongue. Every powerful feeling changes to high alert by how close we are. I bring my lips back to hers and our kiss starts slow but then increases with urgency and desperation. I slide my hands down her chest and rub my hard erection into her body. She spreads her legs for me and I rub my body to hers. I need this. I need to feel close to her.

“Pretty girl,” I whisper in her mouth. “You’re back. Don’t ever leave.”

She lifts her head up and stares into my eyes. “Never, Adam. I’m never going to leave your side. We’re forever.”

Hearing those words coming from her lips is my undoing. I pull her closer to my body and all I want is to show her how much I miss her. Our kiss starts slow and gentle but when she tugs on my hair our kiss turns greedy and hungry. I cannot get enough of her. Everything about Sophia is making my body feel like
it’s on fire. I can feel my erection growing against her body.

“Adam,” she says, “Take me now.”

I lean back to look at her. “Are you sure?”

She nods. “Yes, please. I need you.”

I slowly take off her tank, revealing her lacey black bra. My hands trail down her body. Her breathing quickens. My hands make their way down to her shorts as I slowly take them off.

Holy shit.
She’s not wearing any panties. “Feeling a little free are we?”

She gives me a sly smile.

She sits up and reaches for my shirt. She grabs the hem and quickly rips it off. “There. Better.” She licks her lips and kisses my chest as her hands pull down my shorts.

My hands are in her hair as I kiss the top of her head and trail down to her face. Once we’re both naked, she widens her legs and lies down. Touching her tender skin and hearing her softly say my name nearly breaks me.

Never taking her eyes off mine, I slide my finger into her and give her all of my love. I tenderly move my finger in and out and twist my fingers in her.

“Adam,” she whispers. “Yes, please keep going.” Her voice is shaking and her breathing is fast.

She closes her eyes and I make my way down her belly to her. I circle her clit with my tongue and hear Sophia’s moans. My tongue is in a steady rhythm as I taste her. God, she tastes so good. Her body shakes against my mouth and hand. I know she loves what I’m doing to her. She grips my hair and pushes herself into me more.

“Oh my God, Adam!
Yes!”

“Come baby.”

Her body violently shakes as she screams out my name. I lift my head up and crash my lips to hers. My tongue enters her awaiting mouth and she wraps her legs around my waist. My throbbing cock needs her. I slowly tease her folds with the tip of my hardness. I hear her whimpering against my mouth. Her nails are digging into my back but I love the pain and pleasure she’s giving me. I tease her more until I can’t take it anymore. I slowly enter her and she breaks our kiss. She rolls her head back and pushes up her chest. Perfection. I see her closing her eyes in a state of pleasure. I need her to fully feel me. I push myself into her. I grip her hips and pull her closer to my body. I need to feel all of her.

“
Argh, Adam. More please!”

She’s so tight and wet. I move in and out of her. “Sophia.
Pretty girl. Look at me.”

She does. Our eyes are connected like our souls. I lean down and nibble on her ear down to her neck. I know she loves me doing this to her as she holds me down to her body and moves her hips with mine. She clenches herself around my cock and I can’t hold it in anymore.

“I love you, Adam.”

My eyes shot open. “What the hell?” I slowly sat up and realized my sheets were wet. I looked down and started laughing. “Nice.
Coming in my sleep.” Shaking my head, I gathered up my sheets and tossed them into the hamper. I needed a long, cold shower.

After my shower, I threw on some clothes and got ready to go to the office. I needed to get my mind off her before I lost it. Again. I made a sandwich in the kitchen and took out a bottle of water. I sat at the table and ate some food before leaving. Connor’s laptop was on so I grabbed it and logged into my FaceNet account. I looked up Sophia’s page and saw a new status update.

My light is back and all I want is to see it shine.

I read her status over a few times and wondered what she was talking about. I clicked on a picture she uploaded the day before. She was smiling and looked incredible. I studied her smile and her eyes. She was Sophia and she was staring back at me. I read her caption and smiled again.

I can smile now because of you.

“I hope that you’re smiling now because of me pretty girl.” I clicked out of FaceNet and finished my sandwich. I put the plate in the sink and put my shoes on. I left the apartment and closed the door. It was time to get some work done. I took the stairs to get downstairs and when I got outside, I put on my sunglasses and saw Steven in the car reading the paper. I knocked on the window, “Hey Steven. Can you take me to the office?”

“Certainly, hop in.”

I opened the back passenger door and slid into the silver SUV. I pulled out my phone and sent a text message to Connor.

Me: On my way to the office.
You still there?

Connor: Yeah. Dad’s here too. Did you eat yet?

Me: Nah. Dinner tonight?

Connor: Yeah, I’m down. Dad wants to take us out.

Me: Alright sounds good. See you in 15.

Connor: K

I put my phone away and looked out the window. The world was passing me by and I felt like I was still seventeen. Things were going fast. Taking over Optimax with Connor. Graduating next year. Being with Sophia again. I leaned my head back and thought about how life was changing.

The car ride was quiet. It was peaceful and gave me time to reevaluate my life. 

Ding.

I checked my phone and saw I had an email. I opened up my email and saw a message from Joseph.

Adam,

Here’s the report you requested from Ms. Burns.

Talk soon,

J

I opened up the attachment and analyzed her numbers. Damn, the report was flawless. She had everything accurate and had gone above and beyond what was expected from the interns. I was going to prove everyone wrong. Sophia deserved to be part of this team and I knew she would make a difference.

We made it to the office. “Thanks, Steven.”

He smiled. “Not a problem. Have fun.”

“Always,” I laughed.

I walked inside and took the elevator up to the tenth floor. For some reason I started to feel nervous. It was only a meeting with Connor and Father to review reports and numbers. Why was I feeling like this?

I got off the elevator and made my way into Father’s office. The door was slightly opened and I heard them talking. I listened before going in.

“Do you think it’s a good idea to have Adam back?”

Connor looked at Father before he answered. “He
needs
to be back. I think that it’s a good idea. Dad, he’s really smart and knows what he’s doing.”

Father shook his head. “Joseph told me that Adam is forcing him to make sure Sophia gets hired. I just don’t want your brother’s feelings for her to get in the way.”

“Don’t worry. Seriously, it’s a good thing. Have faith.” Connor nudged Father’s arm.

I turned away. Am I letting my feelings for her cloud my judgment? I pulled back out my phone and opened the attachment. I looked at it again. No. She was great and smart and what this company needed.
A breath of fresh air.

I walked into the office.
“Connor. Father.”

Father stood up and extended his hand to mine, “Adam, son. How are you?”

“Good. Alright, so what’s going on?”

*****

The meeting and dinner with Connor and Father was good. It was nice to catch up with him and see how well he was doing. His health scare made us all learn to appreciate life in a different way. We’re all glad he’s okay, but living life was key now. I guess you really aren’t promised a tomorrow.

Connor and Father left after dinner. I decided to stay behind and have a few more drinks. I was sitting at the bar when some petite blonde comes to sit next to me. She’s cute. I turned my head to the left and gave her a nod.

“Adam Simpson, right?”

I took a sip of my vodka. “Yep, that’s me. Do I know you?”

“I’m Erin. Sophia’s best friend.” I looked at her with wide eyes. “You know,” she says while taking my drink, “You’re all she talks about.”

I couldn’t believe what I just heard. Sophia was talking about me. “
Wh-what’s she saying?”

“She misses you but is too stubborn to
come talk to you. She told me about seeing you at basketball practice and ya’ll have class together.” She swirled my drink. “She’s been my best friend since freshmen year. I know it is hard for her to come talk to you. She told me about you guys. It’s heartbreaking.”

I looked down, not being able to look at Erin. “Yeah, I messed up and I was too chicken to talk to her again. I miss her. She’s part of the reason why I’m back you know?” I took my drink back from her and finished it. “Plus she has a boyfriend. I don’t want to complicate her life.”

Erin slapped my arm. “Is that the
only
thing that’s stopping you?”

I don’t say anything back.

“She’s gotten a lot better since I first met her. She used to be sad all the time and never smiled. It was like she was waiting for a miracle and now that you’re back she’s smiling a lot more. It’s as if she’s finally awake and it’s thanks to you.”

“Then why does she run away from me?” I lift
ed my glass up to the bartender and let her know I needed another drink. Everything that Erin was saying went through my mind. If she was happy that I was back then why wasn’t she acting like it? The bartender came back with my drink and I took a sip.

“It’s Sophia. Nothing she does makes sense.”

I laughed. She had a point.

“Oh,” s
he got up from the bar chair, “We didn’t have this conversation!”

“Alright,” I laughed. “Thanks, Erin.”

She gave me a smile and walked out of the restaurant.

I sat in my chair and thought about everything Erin told me. It felt good hearing that Sophia was happy and that I was the reason she was smiling more.
I looked at my watch and it was almost ten thirty. I wondered if it would’ve been too late to text her. I bit the inside of my mouth and decided against it.

I left a twenty-dollar bill on the counter and got up to leave. The walk back to the apartment from the restaurant wasn’t too bad. I stepped outside and breathed in the September air.
It was another peaceful and quiet night in North Carolina and I liked the calmness of the night. I turned the corner into a dark alley. This shortcut looked better during the daytime. I walked fast. Damn these streets were freaky. Unexpectedly, I felt hands pushing me into a wall. Not being able to process what was going on, my head hit the brick wall and I closed my eyes and tried to shake off the pain. I struggled to push my assailant back and punch whoever this was, but they grabbed my wrist and twisted it behind my back.

“What do you want?”
I screamed, still trying to get out of their grasp.

“Stay the fuck away from Sophia.” His voice was full of rage and anger. He punched me in the side and threw me onto the ground. Before I could get up and see who it was, he ran off into the darkness.

Feeling dizzy and weak, I tried to get up but fell back down. I was bleeding from my head. I managed to get my phone out and call Connor.

Ring. Ring.

“Adam?”

“Help.
Alley by apartment.”

I heard Connor moving around and loud noises through the phone. “Adam, stay there. I’m on my way.” My head was pounding; I tried to get up but felt like I was about to pass out. Who the hell did this to me? Then I remembered what
Connor and Travis told me.

Kyle.